Junior doctors want safe and fair contracts

As many of you will know we are currently preparing for industrial action in order to demonstrate our opposition to the drastic upheaval of our junior doctor contract.

The Government has made it clear that their intention is to impose a new contract that we all believe will be dangerous for the patients we care for and also result in a significant pay cut for many junior doctors.

We are writing to tell you that we are undertaking industrial action out of absolute desperation. The Government has repeatedly failed to participate in meaningful negotiation with our appointed representatives, the British Medical Association, and instead continues to threaten and misrepresent our position.

We want a contract that is safe and fair. As it stands, the threatened contract is neither; it removes vital safeguards that prevent us working dangerously excessive hours and it financially penalises the doctors who work late into the evening and weekends.

The care of our patients remains our foremost concern and we will work in full cooperation with our employer Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust to ensure that essential services are maintained. However, to be clear, we believe that industrial action is required in order to oppose a contract that has the clear potential to damage future patient care.

Many of you have expressed your support for our cause over the past few weeks and we want to thank you for this. Working at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital is a privilege and we will continue to do our best to deliver the best possible care.